Variable flow rate actuator button for a pressurized aerosol dispenser

ABSTRACT

A variable flow rate actuator button for a pressurized aerosol dispenser having a plug which is rotatably received in a socket in the button to register different size circumferentially spaced, longitudinal feed grooves in the sidewall of the plug with a longitudinal groove in the button socket to provide variable flow rate communication between the discharge orifice of the actuator and the hollow valve stem of the pressurized aerosol dispenser.

Unite States atent [1 1 [111 3,863,816 Focht [4 Feb. 4, 1975 [5 VARIABLEFLOW RATE ACTUATOR 3,363,968 l/l968 Williams 222/4021] x BUTTON FOR APRESSURIZED AEROSOL 3,703,994 11/1972 Nigro 222/402.l7 X

DISPENSER [75] Inventor: John Richard Focht, Yonkers, NY.

[73] Assignee: Precision Valve Corporation,

Yonkers, NY.

[22] Filed: Nov. 1, 1972 [21] Appl. No; 302,784

[52] US. Cl. ZZZ/402.17, 239/397 [51] Int. Cl 865d 83/14 [58] Field ofSearch ZZZ/402.17, 42, 575, 402.1 1; 239/397, 579

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,176,888 4/1965 FochtZZZ/402.17

Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant ExaminerThomas E. KocovskyAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Davis, Hoxie, Faithfull & Hapgood [57] ABSTRACTA variable flow rate actuator button for a pressurized aerosol dispenserhaving a plug which is rotatably received in a socket in the button toregister different size circumferentially spaced, longitudinal feedgrooves in the sidewall of the plug with a longitudinal groove in thebutton socket to provide variable flow rate communication between thedischarge orifice of the actuator and the hollow valve stem of thepressurized aerosol dispenser.

5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures E JENTED FEB 41975 sum 10F 2 FIGI VARIABLEFLOW RATE ACTUATOR BUTTON FOR A PRESSURIZED AEROSOL DISPENSER Thisinvention relates to valve actuating buttons for pressurized aerosoldispensers, more specifically, it relates to a variable flow rateactuating button.

Actuator buttons are adapted to be mounted upon the hollow tubular valvestems of aerosol containers and are provided with a fluid flow passagewhich establishes communication between a discharge orifice in thebutton and the hollow valve stem of the container valve. Generally,these buttons are constructed such that the character and volume of theproduct discharge is substantially constant and not subject toadjustment.

Various constructions of variable flow rate actuators are known in theart. In my US. Pat. No. 3,176,888, several embodiments of two piecevariable flow rate actuator buttons are disclosed. The button bodyincludes a bore or socket into which is fitted a separate plug memberhaving a laterally extending finger piece. The plug member is rotatedrelative to the button body by manually moving the finger piece. Theseveral embodiments disclose that the plug portion includes internalpassages arranged in the bottom of the plug member which are capable ofbeing brought into selective registration with the discharge orifice ofthe button and with an intermediate passage in the floor of the socketleading to the hollow interior of the tubular valve stem of thecontainer valve. The relative rotational position of the plug memberwith respect to the body of the button results in the selection ofpassage registrations for different discharge flow rates and in someembodiments sufficient relative rotation will prevent product flow tothe discharge orifice. The body of the button and the plug member areeach injection molded from plastic and are snap fitted to form theassembled variable flow rate actuator.

The present invention is an improvement over the several embodimentsdisclosed in my aforementioned patent in that the passages for effectingselective registration are arranged in the sidewall of the plug so thatthey are easier to mold, less subject to minor dimensional error andprovide more positive control of the discharge rate since the internalpassages are arranged in the sidewall rather than the bottom of the plugmember where it is difficult to provide selective sealing contactbetween the bottom of the plug member and the floor of the socket whichincludes the intermediate passage. That is, the bottom of the plug mustbe perfectly positioned in sealing contact with the floor of the socketto ensure selective registration between the intermediate passage andthe internal passage. Further, with the present invention the hollowvalve stem is in direct communication with the passages for effectingselective registration and the product is not required to pass throughan intermediate passage between the valve stem receiving cavity and theplug receiving socket which passage may become clogged.

It is an object of the present invention to 'provide an improvedvariable flow rate actuator button.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a variableflow rate actuator button which is easier to mold than the prior artactuator buttons.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a variableflow rate actuatorbutton which is less susceptible to clogging.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a variableflow rate actuator button which provides more positive control of theflow rate.

Other objects, aspects and advantages of the present invention will bemore apparent when the detailed description is considered in conjunctionwith'the drawing.

Briefly, the present invention includes a two piece molded plasticvariable flow rate actuator button having a plug member rotatablymounted in a socket in the body of the button. The plug includes aplurality of circumferentially spaced feed grooves arranged in itssidewall which extend longitudinally from the bottom end of the plugalong the sidewall. The feed grooves are in direct communication withthe hollow.valve stem of a pressurized aerosol dispenser and areselectively placed in registration with a longitudinal groove in thesocket of the body of the button by rotation of the plug member toprovide communication with the discharge orifice of the button.

The present invention is illustrated with the accompanying drawing inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view taken along line 1-1 of FIG. 2 showing thetwo piece variable flow rate actuator button of the present invention;

IG. 2 is a top plan view of the two piece variable flow rate actuatorbutton of FIG. 1;

FlG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the plug membershowing the feed grooves;

FlG. 4 is a sectional view of a portion of the variable flow rateactuator button taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 2, showing the plug feedgroove of smaller crosssectional area in registry with the longitudinalgroove of the socket;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a portion of the variable flow rateactuator button similar to FlG. 4, showing both plug feed grooves out ofregistry with the longitudinal groove of the socket;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a portion of the variable flow rateactuator button, similar to FlG. 4, showing the plug feed groove oflarger cross-sectional area in registry with the longitudinal groove ofthe socket; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a portion of the variable flow rateactuator button taken along line 77 in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 1, the variable flow rate actuator button 10 includesa body portion 12 and a rotatable plug member 16. The body portion 12has a central portion 18 with a valve stem receiving cavity 20 formed inits bottom 21 to receive the hollow valve stem 22 of a pressurizedaerosol dispenser (not shown) and a socket 24 formed in the uppersurface 26 of the body portion 12 to receive the rotatable plug member16.

The socket 24 is axially aligned with and extends into communicationwith the valve stem receiving cavity 20. The socket 24 as a reduceddiameter portion 27 at its lower end for snug rotatable contact betweenthe plug member 16 and the sidewall 28 of the reduced diameter portion27. A longitudinal passage or groove 30 is arranged in the sidewall 28of the reduced diameter portion 27. The groove 30 may advantageously berectangular in cross-section. The groove 30 provides communicationbetween the reduced diameter portion 27 and the larger diameter annularchamber of the upper portion 31 of the socket 24. A discharge orifice 32in the body portion 12 provides communication between the larger annularchamber 31 of the socket 24 and the environment.

The upper surface 26'-of the button is advantageously shaped to receivea finger to facilitate actuation. Further, the upper surface 26advantageously includes a plurality of indicia O L H, to indicate theflow rate, off, low or high, see FIG. 2. The rotatable plug member 16includes a lever 34 having a window or aperture 36 which exposes one ofthe indicia O L H, to provide a visual indication of the flow rate,

Referring also to FIG. 3, the depending plug member 16 is shaped in theform of a stepped cylinder for snapfitting into the socket 24. The plugmember 16 has a reduced diameter portion 38 which is partially receivedwithin the reduced diameter portion 27 of the socket 24 and a chamferedbottom 40 to facilitate insertion into the reduced diameter portion 27of the socket 24. A plurality of circumferentially spaced, longitudinalfeed passages or grooves 42 extend inwardly from the sidewall of thereduced diameter portion 38 of the plug member 16 and communicatewith-the chamfered bottom 40 of the plug member 16. The plug feedgrooves 42 are of different cross-sectional areas to provide differentflow rates and are circumferentially spaced relative to one another topermit selection upon rotation of the lever 34. Further, the plug feedgrooves 42 are of rectangular cross-section; however, it should beunderstood that the plug feed grooves 42 can be of other cross-sectionalshapes or less extensive longitudinally.

In operating the variable spray actuator button 10, one of the plug feedgrooves 42 is brought into registry with the groove 30 in the socket 24of the body portion 12 by rotating the plug member 16 until the indiciumfor the desired flow rate shows through the window 36. In FIG. 4, theplug feed groove 42 with the smaller cross-sectional area is in registrywith the socket groove 30 to provide a complete product flow pathbetween the hollow valve stem 22 and the discharge orifice 32 at a lowflow rate. The indicium L is thus exposed as illustrated in FIG. 1. InFIG. 5, the plug feed grooves 42 are both out of registry with thesocket groove 30. The indicium O is thus exposed by the window 36,indicating that the button 10 is off. In FIG. 6, the plug feed groove 42having the larger cross-sectional area is in registry with the bodysocket groove 30. The indicium H is thus exposed by the window 36,indicating a high flow rate.

FIG. 7 shows the product flow path between the body socket groove 30,the larger annular chamber 31 of the body portion 12 and the dischargeorifice 32. The plug feed groove 42 having the larger cross-sectionalareais in communication with the socket groove 30.

The just described variable flow rate actuating button 10 is inexpensiveto mold and requires no complicated or delicate die surfaces to mold thecooperating flow rate controlling grooves 42 and 30. The structure ofthe present invention does not require an aperture or passage in atransverse wall for registry with flow rate controlling passages as dothe illustrated embodiments of my aforementioned patent. Consequently,the present invention is less likely to become clogged. Further, minordiscrepancies in molding dimensions or the perfection of seating of theend of the plug member against the floor of the socket do not affect theflow rate. The present invention can be readily disassembled by theconsumer for cleaning, if necessary, and easily reassembled.

Although described in connection with a dispenser valve having a hollowupstanding valve stem, it is apparent that the invention can be usedwith other forms of dispenser valves such as those having a socket forreceipt of a pin or plug which depends from the button or those in whichthe valve and button are integral.

What is claimed is:

I. A variable flow rate actuator for a pressurized aerosol dispensercomprising:

a body and a plug having a cylindrical portion;

said body including a discharge orifice. means for connection to adispenser valve and a cylindrical socket in communication with theconnection means to receive said plug cylindrical portion;

said body including a groove extending longitudinally of the cylindricalwall of said socket;

said plug cylindrical portion being positioned in said socket to overliethe body socket groove, said plug being rotatable relative to said body;

a plurality of circumferentially spaced grooves of differentcross-sectional areas extending longitudinally of the sidewall of saidplug cylindrical portion to the bottom end of said plug portion, theplug grooves being selectively registerable with said body socket grooveupon rotation of said plug, said plug portion grooves being in directcommunication with said dispenser valve;

said discharge orifice being in communication with said body socketgroove.

2. The actuator as claimed in claim l wherein:

said body includes indicia to indicate various flow rates;

said plug includes a finger engageable lever to assist in rotation ofsaid plug; and

said lever includes means to designate an indicium appropriate to theflow rate selected by the relative position of said plug and said body.

3. The actuator as claimed in claim I wherein:

said body socket groove is rectangular in crosssection and extendslongitudinally of said socket; and

said plug grooves are rectangular in cross-section and extendlongitudinally of the sidewall of said plug cylindrical portion.

4. The actuator as claimed in claim 3 wherein:

the grooves of said plug and said body are open along their longitudinalextent.

5. A variable flow rate actuator for a pressurized aerosol dispensercomprising:

a body and a plug having a cylindrical portion;

said body including a discharge orifice, means for connection to adispenser valve and a cylindrical socket in communication with theconnection means to receive said plug cylindrical portion;

said socket including an upper portion and a lower portion of smallerdiameter;

said body including a groove in the cylindrical wall of said socket;

said plug being positioned in said socket to overlie the body socketgroove, said plug being rotatable relative to said body;

said plug cylindrical portion including a reduced diameter portionpartially received within the lower portion of said socket;

a plurality of circumferentially spaced grooves of differentcross-sectional areas extending longitudinally to the bottom end of saidplug reduced diam eter portion, the plug grooves being selectivelyregisterable with said body socket groove upon rotation of said plug;

said body socket groove being located in the sidewall of said lowerportion of said socket;

said discharge orifice being in communication with said body socketgroove.

1. A variable flow rate actuator for a pressurized aerosol dispenser comprising: a body and a plug having a cylindrical portion; said body including a discharge orifice, means for connection to a dispenser valve and a cylindrical socket in communication with the connection means to receive said plug cylindrical portion; said body including a groove extending longitudinally of the cylindrical wall of said sockEt; said plug cylindrical portion being positioned in said socket to overlie the body socket groove, said plug being rotatable relative to said body; a plurality of circumferentially spaced grooves of different cross-sectional areas extending longitudinally of the sidewall of said plug cylindrical portion to the bottom end of said plug portion, the plug grooves being selectively registerable with said body socket groove upon rotation of said plug, said plug portion grooves being in direct communication with said dispenser valve; said discharge orifice being in communication with said body socket groove.
 2. The actuator as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said body includes indicia to indicate various flow rates; said plug includes a finger engageable lever to assist in rotation of said plug; and said lever includes means to designate an indicium appropriate to the flow rate selected by the relative position of said plug and said body.
 3. The actuator as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said body socket groove is rectangular in cross-section and extends longitudinally of said socket; and said plug grooves are rectangular in cross-section and extend longitudinally of the sidewall of said plug cylindrical portion.
 4. The actuator as claimed in claim 3 wherein: the grooves of said plug and said body are open along their longitudinal extent.
 5. A variable flow rate actuator for a pressurized aerosol dispenser comprising: a body and a plug having a cylindrical portion; said body including a discharge orifice, means for connection to a dispenser valve and a cylindrical socket in communication with the connection means to receive said plug cylindrical portion; said socket including an upper portion and a lower portion of smaller diameter; said body including a groove in the cylindrical wall of said socket; said plug being positioned in said socket to overlie the body socket groove, said plug being rotatable relative to said body; said plug cylindrical portion including a reduced diameter portion partially received within the lower portion of said socket; a plurality of circumferentially spaced grooves of different cross-sectional areas extending longitudinally to the bottom end of said plug reduced diameter portion, the plug grooves being selectively registerable with said body socket groove upon rotation of said plug; said body socket groove being located in the sidewall of said lower portion of said socket; said discharge orifice being in communication with said body socket groove. 